Inductively coupled connector

ABSTRACT

An inductively coupled connector is provided wherein a source of signals is coupled to a first potted toroid. The load for the source of signals is also coupled to a second potted toroid. The toroids are placed adjacent to each other and are interconnected using a single-turn loop. The single-turn loop has some sort of quick fastener so that the toroids may be easily connected or disconnected in an environment such as an underwater environment.

I Unlted States Patent 11 1 1 1 3,742,408

Jaeger 1 June 26, 1973 INDUCTIVELY COUPLED CONNECTOR 3,020,502 2/1962Graham 336/229 x 77 N' 336 96 X 1 1 memo John Jagger, San Diego, Calif-21523133? 25132? 23213 336/175 X 73 Assignee; The Bissett BemanCorporation 3,355,686 11/1967 Strock 336/174 X Santa Monica Calif3,387,606 6/1968 Crafts et a1. 336/D1G. 2 3,431,487 3/1969 Savage 336/73X [22] Filed: Dec. 12, 1969 2 APPL 4 594 Primary Examiner-Thomas J.Kozma Attorney-Smyth, Roston & Pavitt [52] US. Cl 336/5, 336/73, 336/96,

336/174, 336/175, 336/229, 336/DIG. 2 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl H011 17/06,l-lOlf 40/10 An inductively coupled connector is provided wherein [58]Fleld of Search 336/173, 174, 175, a source of Signals is coupled to afirst potted toroid. 336/229 2 The load for the source of signals isalso coupled to a second potted toroid. The toroids are placed adjacent[56] References to each other and are interconnected using a single-UNITED STATES PATENTS turn loop. The single-turn loop has some sort ofquick 1,808,670 6/1931 Louhet 336/174 x f en r so hat the toroids may beeasily connected or 1,953,779 4/1934 Schlater et a1. 336/175 Xdisconnected in an environment such as an underwater 1,955,317 4/1934Wentz 336/73 environment, 2,829,338 4/1958 Lord 336/174 X 2,953,7579/1960 Yarrick et a1 336/175 X 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures INDUCTIVELYCOUPLED CONNECTOR The present invention is directed to an inductivelycoupled connector. It is desirable to provide an underwater make orbreak connector that may be easily assembled under water and whichprovides for a reliable connection under water. Normal connectors do notoperate satisfactorily since the problems of corrosion and difficulty ofassembly make ordinary connectors unreliable in an underwater situation.The present invention provides for an inductively coupled connectorwhich is reliable in operation and simple in connection so that a divermay make a simple connection in an underwater position.

In the underwater connector of the present invention, an inductivecoupling technique is used to provide for the make and break connector.The connector is designed to operate on a-c signals and uses pottedtoroids which are coupled respectively to the source of signals and tothe load. The toroids are then interconnected using a single-turn loop.In addition, it is obvious that a plurality of loads may be connected toa single source or a plurality of signals may be coupled to a singleload or to a plurality of loads if the signals are at differentfrequencies or if the signals are multiplexed in some other fashion. Thesignals at different frequencies may be separated using filter networksand the signals which are multiplexed may be separated using appropriatesignal discriminating circuitry.

As a first example of the present invention, the source of signals iscoupled to a potted toroid. The load is also coupled to a second pottedtoroid. The toroids are placed adjacent to each other and a single-turnloop passes through the first and second toroids. The loop is completedusing a quick-connect structure, such as a plate with a wing nut, toprovide for a good electrical connection.

The underwater inductively coupled connector of the present inventionmay also be used to couple threephase signals or may be used to providefor a selective coupling between groups of signal sources and loads. Aclearer understanding of the invention will be had with reference to thefollowing description and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an inductively coupled connector of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates one method of connecting the toroid to the conductorcable;

FIG. 3 illustrates one method of intercoupling the toroids connected tothe source of signals and to the load;

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a three-phase system;

FIG. 5 illustrates an inductively coupled connector structure forcoupling the three-phase system;

FIG. 6 illustrates a second method of interconnecting the toroidsconnected to the source of signals and to the load;

FIG. 7 illustrates a system for connecting a plurality of signals to asingle load; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a structure for providing a junction box type ofcoupling wherein a plurality of sources and loads may be interconnectedusing the concept of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a source 10 is connected to a toroid 12 using windings I4 andI6. The conductors I4 and 16 are interconnected using the winding 18wrapped around the toroid 12. A load 20 is connected to a toroid 22using conductors 24 and 26. The conductors 24 and 26 are interconnectedusing a winding 28 wrapped around the toroid 22. The toroids l2 and 22are interconnected using a single-turn loop 30.

In principle, the single-turn loop 30 is common to the two toroidaltransformers l2 and 22. A voltage applied to the conductors l4 and 16produces a current flow through the winding 18 which in turn induces acurrent to flow in the single-turn loop 30. The current flowing in thesingle-turnloop 30 produces a current flow in the winding 28 which inturn produces a current flow through the load 20 using the conductors 24and 26. The signal source 10 may be any type of alternating current suchas chopped d-c, sine wave, square wave, digital train or f-m. Also, theload 20 may have any commonly encountered load impedance. It is alsoobvious that an additional advantage of the inductively coupledconnector of the present invention is that electrical step-up orstep-down may be easily employed by varying the turns ratio of thewindings l8 and 28.

As a particular example of a toroid structure that may be used in theinductively coupled connector of the present invention, a two-wireconductor as shown in FIG. 2 is used and the two-wire conductor includesconductors 102 and 104. One of the conductors, such as conductor 102, iswrapped around a toroid 106 a desired number of turns I08 and is thenspliced at position 110 to the second conductor 104. The entireassemblymay then be placed in a mold and encapsulated with an appropriatepotting compound 112. It is noted that an opening 114 is left throughthe potted toroid structure.

The potted toroid structure described above and shown in FIG. 2 may beused for coupling to either the source or the load and may be assembledto provide for the inductively coupled connector shown in FIG. 3. In

FIG. 3, the inductively coupled connector includes a pair of pottedtoroids and 152 which potted toroids may be constructed as shown in FIG.2. The toroids 150 and 152 may be slipped over the center leg of ametallic loop 154. The loop 154 is constructed of a low d-c resistancemetallic meterial which may, for example, be copper. The metallic loopmay be protected from corrosion by the use of a coating of anticorrosivematerial. The loop 154 may be completed by using a top plate 156 whichis bolted to the center leg of the loop using a wing nut 158. It isobvious that other types of quick fastening devices may be used otherthan the wing nut.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of a three-phase system which uses a common returnpath marked N and three phases marked 01, Q2 and Q3. A plurality oftoroids 200, 202 and 204 are individually interconnected to the commonline and to one of the three phases using windings 206, 208 and 210. Theschematic of FIG. 4 is used for connection to the source of signals andto the load.

The three-phase system shown in FIG. 4 may be included in an inductivelycoupled structure as shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the four connectorsrepresenting the common line and the three phases Q1, Q2 and Q3 arecontained in cables 250 and 252. The toroids shown in FIG. 4 areencapsulated in a straight configuration within potted assemblies 254and 256. The potted assemblies 254 and 256 are placed adjacent to eachother and loops 258, 260 and 262 are passed through the separate toroidswithin the potted assemblies 254 and 256 to provide for the inductivelycoupled connections. The loops 258, 260 and 262 may be clamped togetherusing any type of quick-disconnect means such as a wing nut structureshown in FIG. 3 or may be clamped together using a structure such asshown in FIG. 6 now to be described.

In FIG. 6, a pair of toroids constructed as shown in FIG. 2 aredesignated 300 and 302. The toroids 300 and 302 are placed adjacent toeach other in a side-byside relationship as opposed to the positioningshown in FIG. 3 where the toroids are placed one on top of the other.The toroids are interconnected using a singleturn loop 304. The loop iscompleted using a top plate 306 and a pair of wing nuts 308 and 310.Again, it is to be appreciated that other types of fastening devices maybe used other than the wing nuts.

The structure shown in FIG. 6 also lends itself to an arrangement wherea plurality of sources may be coupled to a single load or wherein aplurality of loads may be coupled to a single source. This is shown, forexample, in FIG. 7 where a load is connected to a toroid 350 and aplurality of sources are connected to a plurality of toroids 352, 354and 356. The toroids 352 through 356 are coupled to the single toroid350 using a singleturn loop 358. The loop is completed using the topplate 360 and the pair of fastening devices such as wing nuts 362 and364. The sources may all have different frequencies and the load mayhave filter networks to distinguish between the different frequencysources. It is also to be appreciated that the structure of FIG. 7 maybe reversed using a single signal source coupled to a plurality ofloads.

The structure shown in FIG. 7 could be used in place of the typicalmultipin connector replacement since a plurality of signals could becoupled to a load and could then be filtered out by appropriatecircuitry. In addition, it is appreciated that the structure shown inFIG. 6 may also carry a plurality of signals since the multiplexing ofthe signals may be accomplished electronically prior to the coupling ofthe plurality of signals to the single toroid. The structure of FIG. 7in a sense multiplexes the plurality of signals together using theconnector structure itself to provide for the multiplexing. The multipinconnector replacement of course may also be accomplished using the typeof structure shown above with reference to FIG. wherein separate signalsmay be coupled using a plurality of toroids.

FIG. 8 shows another type of inductively coupled connector structurewhich is similar to a junction box. In FIG. 8, a cable 400 may contain aplurality of conductors which are connected to a plurality of sources.Also, a cable 402 may contain a plurality of connectors which arecoupled to a plurality of loads. A junction box structure includespotted assemblies 404 and 406. Each assembly may include a plurality oftoroids. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, each assembly may include tentoroids. The conductors in the cables 400 and 402 are individuallycoupled to the various ones of the toroids. Interconnection betweenselected ones of the toroids may be accomplished using single-turn loopssuch as loops 408, 410, 412 and 414. It is to be appreciated that anyone of the toroids in the assembly of 404 may be coupled to any one ofthe toroids in the assembly of 406 thereby providing for greatflexibility in the coupling between the various sources and loads.

The present invention, therefore, provides for a very simple type ofconnector which may be used in underwater situation. The problemsinherent in normal connectors are eliminated since the connection may bemade simply and with great reliability. The invention has been describedwith reference to various embodiments but the invention is only to belimited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An inductively coupled connector for connecting and disconnecting aplurality of sources of a-c signals to a plurality of loads, including aplurality of toroids each including a winding and with each windingcoupled to one of the plurality of sources of alternating current forreceiving signals in the winding in accordance with the alternatingcurrent,

a plurality of toroids each including a winding and with each windingcoupled to one of the loads for transmitting currents in the windings tothe loads,

- first means for encapsulating the plurality of second toroids in asecond toroidal assembly,

the first and second toroidal assemblies disposed adjacent to eachother, and

a plurality of detachable single-turn loops for passing throughindividual ones of the plurality of toroids in the first and secondtoroidal means for selectively coupling individual ones of the sourcesof alternating current to the loads and with each of the single-turnloop split into at least two members and including quick fastener meansfor providing connection and disconnection between individual ones ofthe plurality of toroids in the first and second toroidal means.

2. The inductively coupled connector of claim 1 wherein one of thetoroidal assemblies is located on top of the other of the toroidalassemblies and wherein the single-turn loops couple predetermined onesof the signal source to predetermined ones of the loads.

3. The inductively coupled connector of claim 1 wherein the first andsecond toroidal assemblies are lo cated side by side and wherein thesingle-turn loops are used to couple any one of the toroids in the firsttoroiroidal assembly.

1. An inductively coupled connector for connecting and disconnecting aplurality of sources of a-c signals to a plUrality of loads, including aplurality of toroids each including a winding and with each windingcoupled to one of the plurality of sources of alternating current forreceiving signals in the winding in accordance with the alternatingcurrent, a plurality of toroids each including a winding and with eachwinding coupled to one of the loads for transmitting currents in thewindings to the loads, first means for encapsulating the plurality ofsecond toroids in a second toroidal assembly, the first and secondtoroidal assemblies disposed adjacent to each other, and a plurality ofdetachable single-turn loops for passing through individual ones of theplurality of toroids in the first and second toroidal means forselectively coupling individual ones of the sources of alternatingcurrent to the loads and with each of the single-turn loop split into atleast two members and including quick fastener means for providingconnection and disconnection between individual ones of the plurality oftoroids in the first and second toroidal means.
 2. The inductivelycoupled connector of claim 1 wherein one of the toroidal assemblies islocated on top of the other of the toroidal assemblies and wherein thesingle-turn loops couple predetermined ones of the signal source topredetermined ones of the loads.
 3. The inductively coupled connector ofclaim 1 wherein the first and second toroidal assemblies are locatedside by side and wherein the single-turn loops are used to couple anyone of the toroids in the first toroidal assembly to any one of thetoroids in the second toroidal assembly.